Murder charge dropped against Milton, Ont. man who shot home intruder
CBC
A Milton, Ont. man formerly accused of killing a home intruder earlier this year no longer faces a charge of second-degree murder.
On Monday, the Crown withdrew the charge against Ali Mian, 21, in a Milton courtroom, Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed to CBC Toronto.
Mian was originally charged in connection with a shooting in the early morning hours of Feb. 19 at his home in the area of Ontario Street South and Louis St. Laurent Avenue.
Halton Regional Police previously said a man was found dead at the scene. Another man, a 20-year-old from Oshawa, was arrested at the home and charged with breaking and entering and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Three other suspects fled the scene.
Jag Virk, Mian's criminal defence lawyer, said on Monday that Mian is relieved at the charge being dropped and that he is now a free man, he added.
"He's very happy, of course. Finally, he has his life back, freedom back. A heavy burden was lifted off of his shoulders as he was facing murder charges, knowing that if he's found guilty, he would be going to jail for a very long time," Virk said.
Mian was in custody for about nine days before his bail hearing, he added.
In an email to CBC Toronto on Monday, police said an investigation is continuing but added there are no other updates at this time.
Virk said the Crown agreed Mian's actions were in self-defence.
"The Crown agreed with me that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction, given the defence of self-defence," he said.
He added that the case weighed heavily on his client, both financially and emotionally, and that Mian is currently overwhelmed.
"A lot of sleepless nights, a lot of stress, for sure... It's taken quite the toll on him. It's been a very difficult time," he said.
Virk had said previously that the shooting was not targeted and that his client was a registered firearm owner, who "used his gun legally against an armed intruder."
In a statement, he said: "He shouldn't be charged with murder for protecting his mother from someone that broke into his home.